On July 11, Matthew was caring for his girlfriend’s four children, ranging in age from 8 months to 5-years-old, when he allegedly abused them. Police were called to check on “four sick children,” but their mother, Ashley Harvey, denied he hurt them, claiming not to know who did.

“He’s a hardworking, good man, so I’m not about to sit here and let nobody, I don’t care who they are, do this to him. Period,” Ashley Harvey said.

All of them were transported to the hospital, but 2-year-old Jadien Harvey died from his injuries. According to the AJC, “Matthew faces charges of murder, aggravated assault and cruelty to children in connection with the toddler’s death,” Lt. Chris Windley said.

He was already serving time on child cruelty charges for abusing 4-year-old Ashton. Even though Harvey claimed not to know who abused her children, Ashton said that Matthew punched him in the stomach until he vomited, and also punched Jadien.

AJC has more:

The GBI conducted an autopsy on the child, but the cause of death has not been released.

Matthew’s criminal history includes spending nearly three years at Calhoun State Prison following a conviction on various drug charges, according to the Georgia Department of Corrections. He was incarcerated in June 2006 and released from prison in March 2009, records show.

As previously reported by NewsOne, this story is unfortunately more common than one might think.

After serving 11 years in prison for the 1994 murder of his 11-month-old daughter, Daron Duane Davis was sentenced December 6 to life in prison for the murder a second baby daughter.

In 1994, Davis beat his first daughter, Sondaria Davis, to death one month before her first birthday. Her mother was also charged and sentenced to probation. He was released in 2006.